Madness: Reaction as Rice named Ireland’s Young Player of the Year

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The decision to name Declan Rice as the Republic of Ireland’s Young Player of the Year has been described as “madness” by fans on social media.

The 20-year-old received news of the award on the eve of his maiden England call-up, after swapping allegiances from the nation for whom he represented at both youth and senior levels.

Journalist Neil O-Riordan was on the jury which selected Rice for the young player accolade and defended the decision, but admitted he is “fully aware of how ridiculous it looks now”.

I was on the jury which selected Declan Rice for Young Player of the Year. Fully aware of how ridiculous it looks now but we were asked to pick best u25 player in 2018. You could not have given it to anyone else on that basis; I wasn’t going to change vote because it looks bad.